Electrosurgical instrument with rotation and articulation mechanisms

Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument includes an end effector comprising two movable jaws for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaws connect to an electrosurgical energy source to deliver energy through tissue between the jaws to effect a seal. The jaws include a knife channel to reciprocate a knife therealong for severing tissue held between the jaws. A two-stage articulation joint is coupled to the end effector and to articulation bands configured to articulate the end effector. The two-stage articulation joint includes an outer cut metal tube comprising a plurality of sections and a solid but flexible inner core positioned within the outer cut metal tube. The electrosurgical instrument also may include a rotatable closure ring and a closure link operatively coupled to the rotatable closure ring, a rotatable coupling joint coupled to the articulation section, and/or a hollow flexible tube coupled to the knife and an active rod extending longitudinally therethrough.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
 an end effector comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member, the first and second jaw members being movable relative to one another from a first, open position to a second, closed position for grasping tissue therebetween, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source such that electrosurgical energy may be selectively communicated through tissue held between the first and second jaw members to effect a tissue seal; 
 at least one of the first or second jaw members including a knife channel defined therein configured to reciprocate a knife therealong for severing tissue held between the first and second jaw members; and 
 a two-stage articulation joint coupled to the end effector, the two-stage articulation joint operatively coupled to first and second articulation bands configured to articulate the end effector, the two-stage articulation joint comprising:
 an outer cut metal tube comprising a plurality of articulation sections with hinge and locking features that closes and opens the first and second jaw members; and 
 a solid but flexible inner core positioned within the outer cut metal tube; 
 
 a non-rotatable closure ring coupled to a distal end portion of the outer cut metal tube; 
 a rotatable closure ring, wherein a proximal end portion of the rotatable closure ring is coupled to the non-rotatable closure ring; and 
 a closure link having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, 
 wherein the proximal end portion of the closure link is coupled to the rotatable closure ring and the distal end portion of the closure link is coupled to one of the first and second jaw members, 
 wherein the rotatable closure ring and the closure link are configured to close and open the end effector, 
 wherein the rotatable closure ring is rotatable relative to the non-rotatable closure ring and the outer cut metal tube, which allows the rotatable closure ring to rotate independently of the non-rotatable closure ring and the outer cut metal tube while a longitudinal movement of the rotatable closure ring and the non-rotatable closure ring is synchronized, 
 wherein the rotation of the rotatable closure ring relative to the non-rotatable closure ring and the outer cut metal tube results in a rotation of the first and second jaw members, which allows the first and second jaw members to rotate independently of the non-rotatable closure ring and the outer cut metal tube. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the closure link is configured to pull the at least one of the first or second jaw members open relative to the other jaw member and the rotatable closure ring is configured to push the at least one of the first or second jaw members closed relative to the other jaw member. 
     
     
       3. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the end effector is configured to simultaneously rotate and articulate. 
     
     
       4. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 3 , wherein the end effector is configured to rotate when the end effector is in an articulated position. 
     
     
       5. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising a knife configured to reciprocate within the knife channel and rotate when the end effector is rotated. 
     
     
       6. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 5 , further comprising a flexible hollow cable and a knife tube, wherein the flexible hollow cable is coupled between the knife and the knife tube such that the knife can be pushed through at least one of the plurality of articulation sections and wherein the flexible hollow cable is located over an electrical conductor. 
     
     
       7. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotatable pivot, wherein the first and second articulation bands are coupled to at least one of the first or second jaw members through the rotatable pivot. 
     
     
       8. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
 an end effector comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member, the first and second jaw members being movable relative to one another from a first, open position to a second, closed position for grasping tissue therebetween, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source such that electrosurgical energy may be selectively communicated through tissue held between the first and second jaw members to effect a tissue seal; 
 at least one of the first or second jaw members including a knife channel defined therein configured to reciprocate a knife therealong for severing tissue held between the first and second jaw members; 
 a non-rotatable closure ring; 
 a rotatable closure ring, wherein a proximal end portion of the rotatable closure ring is coupled to the non-rotatable closure ring; and 
 a closure link having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, 
 wherein the proximal end portion of the closure link is coupled to the rotatable closure ring and the distal end portion of the closure link is coupled to one of the first and second jaw members, 
 wherein the rotatable closure ring and the closure link are configured to close and open the end effector, 
 wherein the rotatable closure ring is rotatable relative to the non-rotatable closure ring, which allows the rotatable closure ring to rotate independently of the non-rotatable closure ring while a longitudinal movement of the rotatable closure ring and the non-rotatable closure ring is synchronized, 
 wherein the rotation of the rotatable closure ring relative to the non-rotatable closure ring results in a rotation of the first and second jaw members, which allows the first and second jaw members to rotate independently of the non-rotatable closure ring. 
 
     
     
       9. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 8 , wherein the rotatable closure ring is configured to transmit a closure force to the first and second jaw members while the first and second jaw members are rotated relative to an outer tube at any angle. 
     
     
       10. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 8 , further comprising a knife configured to reciprocate within the knife channel and rotate when the end effector is rotated. 
     
     
       11. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 8 , wherein the knife is connected to a knife tube located within an outer tube. 
     
     
       12. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 8 , further comprising an outer tube comprising an articulation section coupled to the end effector, the articulation section operatively coupled to first and second articulation bands configured to articulate the end effector. 
     
     
       13. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
 an end effector comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member, the first and second jaw members being movable relative to one another from a first, open position to a second, closed position for grasping tissue therebetween; 
 at least one of the first or second jaw members including a knife channel defined therein configured to reciprocate a knife therealong for severing tissue held between the first and second jaw members; 
 at least one articulation band including a first articulation band; 
 an articulation section coupled to the end effector, the articulation section operatively coupled to the at least one articulation band configured to articulate the end effector; 
 a non-rotatable closure ring; and 
 a rotatable coupling joint coupled to the articulation section, wherein the rotatable coupling joint comprises:
 a rotatable closure ring, wherein a proximal end portion of the rotatable closure ring is coupled to the non-rotatable closure ring; and 
 a closure link having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, 
 
 wherein the proximal end portion of the closure link is coupled to the rotatable closure ring and the distal end portion of the closure link is coupled to one of the first and second jaw members, 
 wherein the rotatable closure ring and the closure link are configured to close and open the end effector, 
 wherein the rotatable closure ring is rotatable relative to the non-rotatable closure ring, which allows the rotatable closure ring to rotate independently of the non-rotatable closure ring while a longitudinal movement of the rotatable closure ring and the non-rotatable closure ring is synchronized, 
 wherein the rotation of the rotatable closure ring relative to the non-rotatable closure ring results in a rotation of the first and second jaw members, which allows the first and second jaw members to rotate independently of the non-rotatable closure ring. 
 
     
     
       14. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 13 , further comprising at least a second articulation band, wherein the first and second articulation bands are coupled to the rotatable coupling joint. 
     
     
       15. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 13 , further comprising a closure tube and a handle assembly operably coupled to the end effector, wherein the first jaw member is movable with respect to the second jaw member, and wherein the first jaw member is coupled to the closure tube and the second jaw member is coupled to the hand assembly. 
     
     
       16. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one articulation band is coupled to the second jaw member through the rotatable coupling joint. 
     
     
       17. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
 an end effector comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member, the first and second jaw members being movable relative to one another from a first, open position to a second, closed position for grasping tissue therebetween; 
 a knife; 
 at least one of the first and second jaw members including a knife channel defined therein configured to reciprocate the knife therealong for severing tissue held between the first and second jaw members; 
 an outer tube coupled to the end effector; 
 a non-rotatable closure ring; 
 a rotatable coupling joint coupled to the end effector; wherein the rotatable coupling joint comprises:
 a rotatable closure ring, wherein a proximal end portion of the rotatable closure ring is coupled to the non-rotatable closure ring; and 
 a closure link having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion; 
 
 a hollow flexible tube coupled to the knife, the hollow flexible tube defining a space therein; and 
 an active rod that extends longitudinally within the space defined by the hollow flexible tube, 
 wherein the proximal end portion of the closure link is coupled to the rotatable closure ring and the distal end portion of the closure link is coupled to one of the first and second jaw members, 
 wherein the rotatable closure ring and the closure link are configured to close and open the end effector, 
 wherein the rotatable closure ring is rotatable relative to the non-rotatable closure ring, which allows the rotatable closure ring to rotate independently of the non-rotatable closure ring while a longitudinal movement of the rotatable closure ring and the non-rotatable closure ring is synchronized, 
 wherein the rotation of the rotatable closure ring relative to the non-rotatable closure ring results in a rotation of the first and second jaw members, which allows the first and second jaw members to rotate independently of the non-rotatable closure ring. 
 
     
     
       18. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 17 , wherein the hollow flexible tube is rotatably coupled to the end effector and is configured to rotate the end effector through the knife. 
     
     
       19. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 17 , wherein the active rod is configured to electrically couple to one electrical pole of an energy source. 
     
     
       20. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one jaw electrode electrically coupled to at least one of the first or second jaw members, wherein the at least one jaw electrode is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source such that electrosurgical energy may be selectively communicated through tissue held between the first and second jaw members to effect a tissue seal, wherein the at least one jaw electrode defines at least one aperture. 
     
     
       21. The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 20 , further comprising at least one stop member located on at least one of the first or second jaw members, wherein the stop member is configured to protrude through the at least one aperture of the at least one jaw electrode and to control a gap distance between the first and second jaw members.